Dec 16, 2012

"If we lack the courage to confront evil acts, or
tendencies toward hatred and discrimination, both within ourselves and
in society, they will spread unchecked, as history shows. Martin Luther
King, Jr., lamented, 'We will have to repent in this generation not
merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the
appalling silence of the good people.'"

Good
and evil have often been looked upon as diametrically opposed and
mutually exclusive. But in a real, practical sense, such a simplistic
way of thinking is unsatisfactory. Even the cruelest of criminals may possess a strong sense of love or compassion toward his parents and children. Is such a person fundamentally good or evil?The Buddhist understanding is that good and evil are innate,
inseparable aspects of life. This view makes it impossible to label a
particular individual or group as "good" or "evil." Every single human
being is capable of acts of the most noble good, or the basest evil.

Moreover, good and evil in Buddhism are seen not as absolute but
relative or "relational." The good or evil of an act is understood in
terms of its actual impact on our own lives and the lives of others, not
on abstract rules of conduct.Evil actions are those which are based on a narrow selfishness, the
delusion that our lives are fundamentally disconnected from those of
others and that we can benefit at their expense. Evil views life as a
means to be expended, not an end in itself. Good is that which generates
connection between ourselves and others, healing and restoring the bonds among human societies.In the context of Buddhism, good is identified with "the fundamental
nature of enlightenment," or absolute freedom and happiness resulting
from profound self-knowledge. Evil indicates "fundamental darkness," or
life's innate delusion which negates the potential of enlightenment and
causes suffering for oneself and others. This inner darkness echoes with
the despair that our lives are ugly and meaningless; it also drives a
wedge of fear that splits the hearts of people into "us" and "them."A Buddha is someone who has the courage to acknowledge these two
fundamental aspects of life. As Nichiren states, "One who is thoroughly
awakened to the nature of good and evil from their roots to their
branches and leaves is called a Buddha." Buddhas accept their innate
goodness without arrogance because they know all people share the same
Buddha nature. Buddhas also recognize their innate evil without despair
because they know they have the strength to overcome and control their
negativity.Unwillingness to acknowledge the potential of both supreme good and
evil can stem from the fact that as individuals we are reluctant to see
ourselves as either very good or very bad, hiding instead behind a
collective moral mediocrity that requires neither the responsibility of
goodness nor the guilt of evil. And perhaps this moral ambiguity within
seems to demand quick judgment of others-viewing those who serve our
interests as "good people" and those whom we dislike as "bad people" as
if to counterbalance that inner confusion with external clarity.Some view Buddhism as a teaching of tranquility and repose--of
passivity even--whereas in fact the practice of Buddhism is not about
"staying safe." It is a constant struggle to create value and change
evil into good through our own efforts to confront it. Nichiren writes,
"Opposing good is called evil, opposing evil is called good."Soka Gakkai founder Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, imprisoned for his
criticism of Japan's wartime policies, is said to have engaged his
fellow prisoners in a debate on the nature of good and evil, asking if
there was a difference between not doing good and committing actual
evil.If we lack the courage to confront evil acts, or tendencies toward
hatred and discrimination, both within ourselves and in society, they
will spread unchecked, as history shows. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
lamented, "We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the
hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling
silence of the good people."In the words of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, "The universe, this
world and our own lives, are the stage for a ceaseless struggle between
hatred and compassion, the destructive and constructive aspects of life.
We must never let up, confronting evil at every turn."And in the end, the evil over which we must triumph is the impulse
toward hatred and destruction that resides in us all. The process of
acknowledging, confronting and transforming our own fundamental darkness
is the means by which we can strengthen the functioning of good in our
lives.[Courtesy October 2002 SGI Quarterly]

Dec 5, 2012

Hello everyone!I am truly sorry I've been away for so long. I just wanted to check in and wish everyone who is still watching my blog, a happy Holiday season. I hope its filled with joy, laughter, great company, an abundance of food, love and shelter.SeleusNMRK

Dec 2, 2012

Real love is not two people clinging to each other; it can only be
fostered between two strong people secure in their individuality. A
shallow person will have only shallow relationships. If you want to
experience real love, it is important to first sincerely develop a
strong self-identity. True love is not about doing whatever the other person wants you to do
or pretending you are something you’re not. if someone genuinely loves
you, he or she will not force you to do anything against your will nor
embroil you in some dangerous activity.

It is demeaning to constantly seek your partner’s approval. Such
relationships are bereft of real caring, depth or even love. For those
of you who find yourselves in relationships where you are not treated
the heart says you should be, I hope you will have the courage and
dignity to decide that you are better off risking the scorn of your
partner than enduring unhappiness with him or her. Does that person inspire you to work harder at your studies or
distract you from them? Does his or her presence make you more
determined to devote greater energies to school activities, be a better
friend, a more thoughtful son or daugther? Does he or she inspire you to
realize your future goals and work to achieve them? Or is that person
your central focus, overshadowing all else - your school activities,
your friends and family and even your goals?If you are neglecting the things you should be doing, forgetting your
purpose in life because of the relationship you’re in, then you’re on
the wrong path. A healthy relationship is one in which two people
encourage each other to reach their respective goals while sharing each
other’s hopes and dreams. A healthy relationship should be a source of
inspiration, invigoration and hope.

If love could be explained logically, all the agonizing it causes
would vanish from the world. Nonetheless, the bottom line is that,
without respect, no relationship will last for very long nor can two
people bring out the best in each other.Rather than becoming so love-struck that you create a world where
only the two of you exist, it is much healthier to learn from those
aspects of your partner that you respect and admire and continue to make
efforts to improve and develop yourself.Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the author of The Little Prince,
once wrote, “Love is not two people gazing at each other, but two people
looking ahead together in the same direction.” It follows then that
relationships last longer when both partners share similar values and
beliefs.

Partners
in a relationship have different roles. There are times when the
burning intensity and power of the sun are called for, and times when
the soothing luminescence and serene wisdom of the moon is what’s
needed. A complementary relationship in which the partners cooperate and
work together is a beautiful thing.Much of daily life tends to be ordinary and unexciting. Making steady
efforts day to day can be trying. It’s not always going to be fun. But,
when you fall in love, life seems filled with drama and excitement; you
feel like the leading character in a novel.If you get lost in love just because you’re bored, though, and
consequently veer from the path you should be following, then love is
nothing more than escapism. What you are doing is retreating into a
dream world, believing that what is only an illusion is actually real.If you try to use love as an escape, the euphoria is unlikely to last
for long. If anything, you may only find yourselves with even more
problems - along with a great deal of pain and sadness. However much we
may try, we can never run away from ourselves. If we remain weak,
suffering will follow us wherever we go. We will never find happiness if
we don’t change ourselves from within.Happiness is not something that someone else, like a lover, can give
to us. We have to achieve it for ourselves. And the only way to do so is
by developing our character and capacity as human beings; by fully
maximizing our potential. If we sacrifice our growth and talent for
love, we absolutely will not find happiness. True happiness is obtained
through fully realizing our potential.

Each of you has a precious mission that only you can fulfill.
Suffering people around the world are waiting for your brave endeavors.
To neglect your mission and seek only personal pleasure is a sign of
selfishness. It is impossible for an egotistic, self-centered individual
to truly love another person.On the other hand, if you genuinely love someone, then through your
relationship with him or her, you can develop into a person whose love
extends to all humanity. Such a relationship serves go strengthen,
elevate and enrich your inner realm of life. Ultimately, the
relationships you form are a reflection of your own state of life.Some people are plunged into deep despair and lose all meaning in
life when a relationship ends or their hearts are broken. Some take the
rejection as a personal negation of everything they stand for and feel
as if they have no value or worth left as human beings.

Many people can probably relate to such feelings. But you are only
letting yourselves down if you succumb to unhealthy obsessions in your
youth or are so blinded by love that you can’t see anything else. No
matter what, you must always do your best to live courageously. You
mustn’t be weak-hearted. Youth is a time for advancing bravely into the
future. You must not veer off course or fall behind or hide in the
shadows.Please don’t let a broken heart discourage you. Tell yourselves that
you’re not so weak or fragile as to let such a minor thing bring you
down. You may think no one could possibly compare to the one you are
interested in, but how will he or she compare to the next 100, the next
1,000, the enxt 10,000 people you will meet? You cannot declare with
certainty that there won’t be others who far surpass him or her. As you
grow, the way you look at people will change as well.

I’m sure quite a few among you have had your hearts broken or been
badly hurt and perhaps feel unable to go on, your self-esteem in
tatters. But you must never believe that you are worthless. There is no
substitute for you, who are more precious than all the treasures in the
universe gathered together. No matter what your present circumstances, I
think of all of you as my irreplaceable sons and daughters, and I have
the greatest expectation that you will overcome all obstacles and rise
out of any suffering and despair.It is crucial that we become strong. If we are strong, even our
sadness will become a source of nourishment, and the things that make us
suffer will purify our lives.Only when we experience the crushing, painful depths of suffering can
we begin to understand the true meaning of life. Precisely because we
have experienced great suffering, it is imperative that we go on living.The important thing is to keep moving forward. If each of you use
your sadness as a source of growth, you will become a person of greater
depth and breadth - an even more wonderful you. This is the harvest of
your pain and suffering.Hold your head high. Because you have lived with all your might, you
are victors. You must not sink into depression or take a path that leads
to self-destruction.Daisaku Ikeda

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About Me

My SGI Lotus Flower Blog: Spreading the wonders and joy of Nichiren Buddhism through articles, experiences, art, music, film, comedy and pop culture. For beginners to long time members, I hope this blog serves you well. Like the Lotus Flower we can bloom right where we are.

My Art By Seleus Blog: I've been drawing since I was 5. I've done live nude drawings, oil paintings, sketching, digital art and graphic design. I love to mainly draw female portraits. I love caricature, illustration, pop art, pin-ups and vector art. I attended the School of Visual Arts for awhile and my favorite Artist is Al Hirshfeld. A diehard Hitchcock, Wonder Woman, Classic Film fan.

"Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. no matter what happens. How could this be anything other than the boundless joy of the Law? Strengthen your power of faith more than ever."

True happiness means forging a strong spirit that is undefeated, no matter how trying our circumstances.

Disclaimer

The opinions, thoughts and artwork expressed here are solely my own (unless otherwise noted).The photos on this site explain my feelings about the practice in a visual way. The inner artist in me thought that by merging beautiful guidance with art, music, film, humor and pop culture- I can move and tap into another part of ourselves. How can I convey these pearls of wisdom in a way that I can understand more. The graphics are for also for entertainment purposes to invoke laughter and smiles to our hearts. They are not to be taken seriously. But my practice I take seriously. Its not my intention to offend anyone. I claim no ownership or copyright of any of the images posted except those taken and created by me. If you are the owner of a specific image & would like it removed, please email & I will do so promptly. This is a non-official SGI site and I will try my best to provide the sources.

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